Pastor Sued by Congregation for Selling Church and Parsonage without Consent

A California pastor is being sued by a church member for selling his church parsonage and putting the church up for sale without the consent of the congregation.

Pastor Andre Harris had been the pastor of Born Again Christian Center in Palo Alto since 1999 and lived in a two-bedroom home owned by the church with his wife. But according to church members, Harris sold the home and put the church on the market without discussing the matter with the congregation.

Arthel Coleman, a former deacon of Born Again Christian Center, has filed a lawsuit against Harris “on behalf of the church.”

The lawsuit states that Harris obtained paperwork that deeded the parsonage to himself as a “gift” though the congregation never approved such a decision. The paperwork was filed by Harris’ sister-in-law Rhona Edgerton-Harris, and brother Kenneth Harris, both Century 21 real estate agents.

The parsonage sold for $399,950 on June 12. The church remains for sale with an asking price of $999,950.